Audio 2:54
Govt is sacrificing Great Barrier Reef for political expediency: diplomat

William RolloUpdated
Mon 23 Jun 2014, 10:25 AM AEST

Australia has once again spared the embarrassment of having the Great Barrier Reef listed as 'in danger' by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, but the deferral has done nothing to allay concerns about the state of the reef. A former Australian diplomat to the United Nations has lashed out at the efforts to stop the listing, accusing the Government of putting political expediency above the best interests of the reef itself.

Transcript

CHRIS UHLMANN: Australia has again been spared the embarrassment of having the iconic Great Barrier Reef listed as "in danger" by the United Nations.

But the deferral by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee has done nothing to allay the scientific concerns about the state of the reef.

And a former Australian diplomat to the United Nations has lashed out at the efforts to stop the listing, accusing the Government of putting political expediency above the best interests of the reef itself.

William Rollo reports.

WILLIAM ROLLO: Despite the Australian Government being given another year to show it can protect the Great Barrier Reef, marine biologist Jon Brodie says the damage is already clear.

JOHN BRODIE: In straight scientific and environmental terms, the Great Barrier Reef's in huge danger and declining as we watch, from coral to seagrass to dugongs and lots of things.

WILLIAM ROLLO: But it's not just scientists who are surprised the World Heritage Committee hasn't acted, after warning Australia for two years over the impacts of dredging and port expansions.

When the committee met last week, Australian representatives explained the Government is doing everything it can to protect the World Heritage Site.

Alison Broinowski worked as an Australian diplomat for over 30 years, including to the United Nations.

She says the Government is acting against the best interests of the Great Barrier Reef.

ALISON BROINOWSKI: If the facts are there, then a responsible government would face up to them and through its diplomats would express concern and say 'Look, we're grateful for UNESCO's opinion on this, and we will do the best we can with the assistance of other countries and people who are involved with the processes that are causing this damage to see that we turn it around'.

WILLIAM ROLLO: She says Australia shouldn't try to prevent the reef from falling onto the 'in danger' list.

ALISON BROINOWSKI: It's not a matter of trying to stand in the way of the international community, but to say 'Look, this is what world opinion represents. These are the warnings and this is the expert advice that has been built up over many years from this experienced body. We, as a responsible member, should take it seriously'.

WILLIAM ROLLO: Queensland's Environment Minister Andrew Powell says he doesn't see a problem.

He addressed the World Heritage Committee meeting and says some of the international delegates had the wrong information.

ANDREW POWELL: We needed to sit down with the delegates and explain to them that a lot of assessment - in fact, extensive assessment has gone on - with coming up with a solution.

What became clear was that they didn't have all the information that they required and we undertook to provide that to them while we were in Doha.

But what is also is that whilst we're trying to present the science and the facts, there are extreme green groups like WWF, they worked extremely hard while in Doha to convince the delegates in particular not to take the scientific or factual approach.